A Structure of Splendor for Eternity
A wealthy Jew from Los Angeles once visited me in my home. When those in my house realized just how rich he was, they granted him great honor.
But when we sat together privately, he poured out the contents of his heart. “Honored Rav,” he began in confidence, “everyone respects me for my wealth. But the truth is that I am the poorest man on earth. All of my funds are invested in precious stones. But can a person subsist on diamonds and rubies? I don’t have any money for even the most basic foods.”
“Why don’t you sell some of the gems?” I suggested.
“At this point, I cannot sell a thing.” It was the beginning of the economic downturn in America. As he suspected, all of his money was lost, and he was left penniless.
After his tremendous fall, he moved into a simple home. Today, he lives like an ordinary man. All that is left of his former wealth are three large Batei Kenesiot, which he had built in better days. Whenever he tells people that he built these grand edifices, they are incredulous.
This incident has a powerful message. After this man’s economic fall, he was left with nothing other than the Batei Kenesiot he had built. So too, when we arrive at the World on High, our sole properties will be the infrastructures of Torah which we labored to build in this world.
